Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a complex spinal deformity of unknown aetiology and extreme variability, occurring at least in genetically predisposed children. We previously demonstrated a differential dysfunction of melatonin signaling through Gi proteins in osteoblasts from AIS patients, leading to stratification of patients into three functional subgroups. Herein we extended our study to other cell types and various Gi-coupled receptors.

Our data showed that dysfunction of melatonin signaling is not confined in osteoblats, and revealed that AIS patients can be stratified with any compounds that initiate Gi-mediated signaling. Specificity and sensitivity of this assay was estimated at 100%, since impaired signal transduction was observed only in AIS patients. The risk of developing AIS was determined in 33% of asymptomatic at-risk children, and was confirmed clinically several months later.

Gi protein dysfunction is not melatonin specific but a systemic impairment that can be regarded as a key determinant in the processes leading to AIS. Targeting this defect can serve as a diagnostic procedure and a therapeutic avenue for AIS patients and population at-risk of developing AIS. Moreover, classification of individuals by evaluating Gi-coupled receptor signaling with CDS is an advantageous procedure because it can be rapidly performed without prior knowledge of the specific mutated genes.